Decision details

That the Council Plan 2015-2019 as attached at Annex A to the report be recommended to Council .

Since becoming a Unitary Authority in 1998 the Council has made savings in its annual revenue spending in excess of £70m.  Of this over £18m has been removed from budgets in the last few years.  By all comparative measures, the Council provides value for money.  However, pressure on public sector spending remains intense and it is predicted that a further £25m of savings will be needed over the next five years.

This scale of savings coming on top of previous economies means it will not be possible to continue to deliver services in the way we have come to accept and expect. In order to meet this challenge the council needs to find a framework for delivering services that allows us to adapt, innovate, find new ways of working and, in some cases, reduce what we do.

The Council Plan is rooted firmly in the Conservative election manifesto of 2015.  It puts those election commitments into the post general election financial context to provide the organisation with a strategic approach and framework to meet the challenges ahead.

To continue with the current framework of priorities and Medium Term Objectives (MTOs).

None.